Patterns of Disturbance, Reproductive Effort, and SuccessionAcross a Depth Gradient in a Southern California Kelp ForestCommunity

代顿和泰格纳是海带系统研究的领导者 生态;代顿也被认为是实质性的 对生态理论的发展和 自然社区的组织。这些调查人员 一直在研究海带种群的动态， PT.洛马海藻床了15年。 最后一个奖项， 他们的长期监控让一些非常有趣的 厄尔尼诺-南方涛动影响的观测 海藻森林动态的异常 二阶效应， 在恢复"正常"的海洋/大气环境之后， 条件下，已经造成了戏剧性的扰动的Pt。洛马 床 海带群落内的生态演替 以不可预测的方式进行，先验地，从我们的 对海藻系统的早期认识。 代顿和特格纳觉得 我们的预测能力现在受到了我们缺乏 了解身体障碍和生理 海带的条件（受环境压力和 变异）影响生殖条件、能力和 招募新人。 这项工作将审查间- 种内竞争和养分有效性效应 海藻森林的繁殖和演替。

Dayton and Tegner are leaders in the study of kelp system ecology; Dayton is likewise recognized for substantial contributions to ecological theory on the development and organization of natural communities. These investigators have been studying the dynamics of kelp populations in the extensive Pt. Loma kelp beds for a decade and a half. The last award and their long-term monitoring allowed some very interesting observations on the effect of El Nino - Southern Oscillation anomalies on the kelp forest dynamics. Second order effects, after the return to "normal" oceanographic/atmospheric conditions, have caused dramatic perturbation of the Pt. Loma beds. Ecological succession within the kelp community has proceeded in ways that were not predictable, a priori, from our earlier understanding of kelp systems. Dayton and Tegner feel that our predictive capabilities are now hampered by our lack of understanding of how physical disturbances and physiological conditions of kelps (as affected by environmental stresses and variation) influence reproductive condition, capacity and the recrutiment of new individuals. This work will examine inter- and intra-specific competition, and nutrient availability effects on reproduction and succession within kelp forests.